Exercise Shoe

ABSTRACT

An exercise shoe is provided having an outsole and a midsole as well as various other standard components in a variety of sports types. Its broadest embodiment has at least one attachment point loop formed at the midsole and or the outsole for connection to the cabling of a weight machine. Alternatively, a plurality of attachment points are provided for the shoe including a toe loop, a heel loop, a medial loop, and a lateral loop. Another alternative embodiment teaches a medial arch loop and a lateral arch loop in addition to or alternative to the original four attachment points.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of footwear and, more particularly, to shoes comprising connection points for the user to connect the shoes to the cables of a cable weight training machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A cable machine is an item of exercise equipment used in weight training. These machines typically comprise a vertically-oriented steel frame with a weight stack at each end. Cables connect snap links to the weight stacks. The cables run through adjustable pulleys that can often be adjusted within a particular height range, thereby allowing a variety of exercises to be performed on the apparatus. One end of the cable is attached to a perforated steel bar that progresses through a hole in the center of the weight stack. In order to select the desired amount of resistance, a metal pin is placed into a hole in single weight of the weight stack.

The pin engages the perforated steel bar so that when the bar is lifted, the weight through which the pin is traversing is lifted along with all the plates resting upon the pinned plate. The plates below do not rise. This allows the same machine to provide several levels of resistance over the same range of motion with minimal adjustment. Usually, each plate is marked with a number. On some machines these numbers give the actual weight of the plate and those above it, and on other machines the number is simply an index counting the number of plates being lifted. A distal end of the cable forms a loop that engages a snap link or carabineer, which allows the user to attach the appropriate accessory for a particular exercise.

Inner (adduction) and outer (abduction) thigh plate machines are popular pieces of exercise equipment. Both involve the user sitting with their knees bent in front of them to effectuate an exercise motion. Adduction is a movement which brings a part of the anatomy closer to the middle sagittal plane of the body. It is opposed to abduction. Abduction refers generally to a movement which draws a limb away from the median sagittal plane of the body. The adduction machine is designed to target the muscles of the inner thighs, and the abduction machine helps target the outer thigh muscles.

Unfortunately, using these machines require the inner and outer thighs to lift weight while in a seated position, which increases the risk of straining relatively small back muscles and aggravating lower back and hip problems. In addition, inner and outer thigh muscles are designed to support movement as opposed to being primary movers like they are in these types of exercises. The best way to target these muscles safely is with standing exercises, such as standing adduction and standing abduction cable cross exercises using cable machines. However, the problem is that gyms do not provide a means to attach a cable to a distal portion of the leg.

Ankle straps are available that wrap around a user's ankle, typically having a metal ring attachment point to attach to a snap link or carabineer of the cable machine. These straps are typically bulky, and not particularly stylish. More importantly, they often are uncomfortable and tend to dig into a users skin and often cut off circulation. Some models that use hook and loop fastener to secure the strap about a user's ankle are prone to scratching a user and even becoming unstrapped under load.

The present invention meets the unmet need of a gym accessory for attaching a cable machine cable to one's feet for the purpose of effecting exercises such as, but not limited to, thigh adduction, thigh abduction, and gluteal extensions while maintaining comfort, convenience, and style.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing an exercise device as described below.

An exercise shoe comprising:

-   -   a sole such that the sole has         -   a loop formed thereon providing an operational cavity             therein.             In another aspect, wherein the sole comprises:     -   a midsole.         In another aspect, wherein the sole comprises:     -   an outsole.         In another aspect, wherein the sole comprises:     -   a combination of midsole and outsole.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a toe loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a heel loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a medial loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a lateral loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a medial arch loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a lateral arch loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed from an outsole and ending on a midsole.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a vertical loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as a horizontal loop.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   the loop formed as an angled loop.

An exercising device comprising:

-   -   a support surface having     -   integral attachment points formed thereon.         In another aspect, further comprising:     -   a cavity formed as the attachment point from     -   a protrusion that extends from one portion of the support         surface to another portion of the support surface.         In another aspect, wherein an orientation of the protrusion is         from a group comprising:     -   vertical, horizontal and angled.         In another aspect, wherein a location of the protrusion is from         a group comprising:     -   a toe, a heel, a medial, lateral, medial arch, a lateral arch         and combinations of the foregoing.

A foot support structure comprising:

-   -   a sole having         -   a midsole and         -   an outsole as well as     -   an attachment loop integrally formed from material of the sole.         In another aspect, wherein the attachment loop further         comprises:     -   a toe loop     -   a heel loop     -   a medial loop     -   and a lateral loop.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a side view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a top view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an photograph/illustration of a side view of one embodiment of the invention being worn and used by a user;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a top view of one embodiment of the midsole/outsole of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a side view of one embodiment of the midsole/outsole of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in each figure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

In the Detailed Description of the Invention and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

In this section, the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 illustrates a shoe 10 having provisions so that a user can connect the shoe 10 to a cable exercise machine. The shoe 10 is an athletic shoe such as a crosstrainer, tennis shoe, basketball shoe, sneaker, running shoe, walking shoe, trail runner, or any other athletic shoe known in the art. The shoe 10 comprises an upper 12, the upper 12 being constructed from materials such as leather, synthetics, meshes, foams, plastic welds, laces, components, lacing hardware, and other materials and components known in the art.

The upper 12 comprises a vamp 14, a plurality of eyelets 16 in the case of a shoe having laces, a counter 20, a quarter 22, a collar 24, and a tongue 18. The collar 24 is functionally supportive and padded for comfort and protection against lateral movements, and also assists in the prevention of ankle injuries. The inside of the upper 12 is lined with a liner material 26. The upper 12 is secured to secure the shoe 10 to a user's foot using laces, hook and loop fastener, Velcro®, snaps, elastic, or a pressure fit. The tongue 18 provides padding and protection from fastening pressure.

The upper 12 is attached to a midsole 28 which is the platform in which the foot sits, and provides cushioning properties as well as support. The midsole 28 wraps upwards to allow for a point to which to bond the midsole 28 to the upper 12. The midsole 28 is typically made form polyurethane or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). The outsole 30 of the shoe 10 contacts the ground and provides grip and traction. The outsole is made from rubber, foam, EVA, and combinations thereof.

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the shoe 10 is connectable to a clip or carabineer, like those found on cable machines, through a series of loops. The shoe comprises a toe loop 32, a heel loop 34, a medial loop 36, and a lateral loop 38. Each loop 32, 34, 36, 38 is designed to withstand the heavy load applied separately to each loop 32, 34, 36, 38 such as a load from the weight stack of a cable machine. The loops 32, 34, 36, 38 are made from material from the midsole 28, the outsole 30, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the loops 32, 34, 36, 38 are additionally reinforced with metal, fiberglass, nylon, Twaron®, Dyneema®, aramid, para-aramid, Teflon®, rubber, plastic, leather, high density polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight poly ethylene, or any fiber, composite, or cable known in the art. In another alternative embodiment, steel cable forms the loops 32, 34, 36, 38.

It should be understood that the orientation of the loop on the midsole 28, outsole 30 or combinations thereof are shown in FIG. 1 as being up and down in the drawing for the toe 32 and heel 34 loops whilst the medial 36 and lateral 38 loops are shown horizontally in FIG. 1. It should be understood that either disposition is available for any of the loops herein or even others such as an angled disposition of the loops whereby the loop sits at an angle to the horizontal. Further it should be understood that the loops thereby form an operational cavity that is used to attach the cable thereto.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user (U) wearing a pair of shoes 10. The user has a clip 40 (that is secured to a cable 42) clipped onto the toe loop 32 of the shoe. In this illustration, the user (U) is performing a standing gluteal extension. As the user's (U) active leg 44 moves away from the cable machine 46, the toe loop 32 pulls on the cable that is clipped to the shoe 10 to effectuate an exercise motion. In a similar vein, the user may clip the clip 40 to any of the loops 32, 34, 36, 38 to perform a variety of exercises. By attaching the cable 42 to the medial loop 36, a standing thigh abduction exercise can easily be performed.

By attaching the cable 42 to the lateral loop 38, a standing thigh adduction exercise can easily be performed. By attaching the cable 42 to the heel loop 34, a standing hip flexion exercise can easily be performed. By attaching the cable 42 to the toe loop 32, a standing hip extension or gluteal extension exercise can easily be performed. These are a few of the numerous examples of exercises possible utilizing the shoe 10, many others of are apparent.

It is also contemplated that rubber and elastic cables and bands be used as source of resistance either separately or in conjunction with a cable machine. The rubber and elastic cables and bands can be attached to substantially stationary objects, or instead a free end can be held by the user so that the user can perform stretching exercises, upper body exercises such as band curls, or even physical therapy. Alternatively, the free end could be held by another individual such as a personal trainer or physical therapist. In one method of use of the shoes 10, they can be attached to each other with an elastic cable or band for the purpose of performing walking side squats under tension. These are few of the numerous examples of exercises possible utilizing the shoe 10, many others of which are apparent.

The invention also contemplates a method of wearing, using, and exercising with the shoe 10 described herein.

FIG. 4-5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the shoe 10 showing only the midsole 28/outsole 30 comprising additional loops, a medial arch loop 48 and a lateral arch loop 50.

Finally, the shoes can be clipped to slatic tubing, bands, therabands, bungees, and or cable machines.

Of course it should be understood that the shoe can alternatively have only one loop device or any combination of the foregoing embodiments maximizing the variation of the teachings herein. In this regard, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included. Further, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise shoe comprising: a sole such that the sole has a loop formed thereon providing an operational cavity therein.
 2. The exercise shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises: a midsole.
 3. The exercise shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises: an outsole.
 4. The exercise shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises: a combination of midsole and outsole.
 5. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a toe loop.
 6. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a heel loop.
 7. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a medial loop.
 8. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a lateral loop.
 9. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a medial arch loop.
 10. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a lateral arch loop.
 11. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed from an outsole and ending on a midsole.
 12. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a vertical loop.
 13. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as a horizontal loop.
 14. The exercise shoe of claim 1, further comprising: the loop formed as an angled loop.
 15. An exercising device comprising: a support surface having integral attachment points formed thereon.
 16. The exercise device of claim 15, further comprising: a cavity formed as the attachment point from a protrusion that extends from one portion of the support surface to another portion of the support surface.
 17. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein an orientation of the protrusion is from a group comprising: vertical, horizontal and angled.
 18. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein a location of the protrusion is from a group comprising: a toe, a heel, a medial, lateral, medial arch and a lateral arch.
 19. A foot support structure comprising: a sole having a midsole and an outsole as well as an attachment loop integrally formed from material of the sole.
 20. The foot support structure of claim 19, wherein the attachment loop further comprises: a toe loop a heel loop a medial loop and a lateral loop. 